National Library of Medicine Treatments were given once a day and 14 treatments comprised a course. The relapse rate of the scalp acupuncture group was 13.81% However, a number of therapies including acupuncture can be used to treat the disease symptomatically and convert MS into remission. He could not elevate the hyoid bone, indicating a probable swallow reflex problem. When treating stroke from thrombosis or embolism, scalp acupuncture treatment should begin as soon as feasible. Upon examination he looked very tired and depressed, his tongue was red with a dry, thick, yellow coating, and his pulses were wiry and slippery.b, Chinese medical pattern discrimination: Liver depression qi stagnation, spleen qi deficiency, blood stasis in the channels, liver-gallbladder damp heat, Primary area: Upper 1/5, middle 2/5 and lower 2/5 Motor Area, Secondary area: Speech I Area (same as lower 2/5 Motor Area), Neck point, (a new extra point for dysphagia, located at 1 inch below Feng Chi (GB 20). His subsequent treatments were focused on his paralyzed arm and leg. During treatment, some patients experience sensations of heat, cold, tingling, numbness, heaviness, distention, or the sensation of water or electricity moving in the affected limbs. The upper 1/5 region is used to treat contralateral dysfunctional movement of the lower extremity, trunk, spinal cord, and neck. The role of acupuncture is to unblock the channels. Not believing that she was once again able to walk, he went to her house in person to see this miraculous change. Insert needles in the upper 1/5 Motor Area, Speech I Area, Foot Motor and Sensory Area, Chorea and Tremor Area, and Praxis Area and stimulate bilaterally. A therapeutic course consists of 10 treatments. The patient's wife rushed back into the lecture room saying repeatedly, He can move his arm and hand now in a loud, excited voice. While interviewing Tom, we were shocked to find that his right arm and hand had actually been paralyzed for 11 years. Her tongue showed a red tip, only a thin, white coating, and a peeling coating at the front. Following the surgery, the left front side of his head no longer contained any scalp and there was a depression where the tumor and surrounding tissue had been removed. Afterwards, her speech was so much clearer, faster, and stronger that even she was surprised. Select either the Chorea and Tremor Area or the Foot Motor and Sensory Area, depending whether the patient has muscular spasms or other abnormal sensations such as pain or burning. The doctor should twirl the needle as vigorously as the patient can tolerate and have the patient move the affected limb actively and passively. These areas may also be effectively employed for pain management, especially that caused by the central nervous system such as phantom pain, complex regional pain, and residual limb pain. Chinese medical pattern discrimination: Liver blood deficiency with internal stirring of liver wind, kidney qi deficiency, liver depression qi stagnation, blood stasis, Primary area: Motor Area, Sensory Area, Foot Motor and Sensory Area, Secondary area: Balance Area, Chorea and Tremor Area, and Vertigo and Hearing Area. The principle of scalp acupuncture is very straightforward; the aim is to stimulate the diseased area of the brain in order to facilitate a return of function in that area. Tell the child that those are normal and are a good sign for improving more quickly. His treatment strategy was modified to take care of depression. This results in relaxation and pain . Symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis vary widely depending on the location of affected myelin sheaths. Her legs had severe tremors when she put her toes on the ground and she could not stand on one leg. Treatment is given two to three times per week and a therapeutic course consists of 10 treatments. Find a doctor near you, schedule an appointment, or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536). There are forms of periodic paralysis, including sleep paralysis, which are caused by other factors. Common symptoms and signs include progressive weakness, muscle wasting, muscle fasciculations, spasticity or stiffness in the arms and legs, and overactive tendon reflexes. The modern system of scalp acupuncture in China has been explored and developed since the 1950s. However, those who don't have such sensations could still have immediate effects. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory nerve damage as well. Ren Thread a third needle from Tai Chong (Liv 3) through the foot to Yong Quan (Ki 1) on the sole of the foot. Therefore, even when treating the same complaint, the method of treatment chosen by one practitioner can vary significantly from another. A swallowing disorder can occur in people of all age groups but it is more likely in the elderly, patients who have had strokes, and in patients who are admitted to acute care hospitals or chronic care facilities. Unlike traditional acupuncture, where one needle is inserted into a single point, in scalp acupuncture needles are subcutaneously inserted into whole sections of various zones. Her left ovary hurt and the pain was worse during menses. He felt depressed, irritable, angry, and severely fatigued. Electrical stimulation can be applied above and below the damaged level at Hua Tuo Jia Ji points on the back, which is another important technique for treating quadriplegia in addition to scalp acupuncture. Though shocked and stunned watching her walk up to greet him, her doctor was thrilled with her progress and hoped for more excellent results. With strong encouragement, she struggled up and stood by herself for one minute, two minutes, and then three minutes. After each treatment from the third to the fifth visit there were gradual improvements in all her limbs. Many patients also have reported that their bladder and bowel control, fatigue, and overall sense of well-being significantly improved after treatment. Symptoms of Bell's palsy usually appear suddenly and reach their peak within 48 hours. For example, if stroke occurs in the motor area of the right side of the brain, the left side of the body may show weakness or paralysis. Normal muscle function requires intact connections all along this motor pathway. Compared to adult patients, generally speaking, young patients should receive fewer needles, milder stimulation, and shorter time of needle retention. Her pulses were wiry and fine overall, with especially weak pulses in the cubit (chi) positions bilaterally. She felt so excited about these improvements that she began to cry. Jimmy, a 52-year-old male, came to our clinic in Santa Fe, NM, in 2000. At the time, scalp acupuncture was primarily used to treat paralysis and aphasia due to stroke. At the second treatment, Denise reported that the incontinence of urine had improved remarkably after the first treatment and the numbness, spasms, and weakness of both legs showed some improvement as well. However, facial paralysis may continue to develop and get worse for seven to 10 days after initial symptoms occur. Forty-five successful case histories are given from our clinical experience. By stimulating those reflex areas, acupuncture can have direct effects on the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, thalamo-cortical circuits, thalamus, hypothalamus, and pineal body. In addition to scalp acupuncture, the ear and body acupuncture were very helpful in the patient's progress and recovery. During the treatment, some patients may experience sensations of heat, cold, tingling, numbness, heaviness, distention, or the sensation of water or electricity moving along their spine, legs, or arms. Four months prior to the first visit, this patient was injured in a car accident. I can walk solidly from heel to toe and walk backwards with no difficulty.. To prevent corneal infections, the eyes may be protected by covers or taped shut during sleep and for rest periods. Select the Balance Area or Vertigo and Hearing Area of the scalp, respectively, depending on the symptoms. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is often caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Bell's palsy. The following day he returned to the clinic for another treatment. In another body of work examined in the meta-analysis, Huang Na et al. While it is not our intention to assert that scalp acupuncture is always effective with every patient, these clinical reports make a compelling case for its wider use. She also had more energy and started to do some housework again. With such little information available, it has been almost impossible to apply this technique widely and with confidence. Normally it takes several months or even as much as one to two years for this treatment to be effective. In these case descriptions, we explain in practical detail how to apply the needling techniques in order to obtain optimal results. His tongue was red and slightly purple with a thick, white coating and his pulses were wiry and slippery. Although the most obvious symptom is impairment to the limbs, function is also impaired in the torso. . While we were continuing our lecture, we heard screaming from the other room. Scalp acupuncture distinguishes a yin somatotope at the front of the scalp and a yang somatotope at the back of the scalp. The chain of nerve cells that runs from the brain through the spinal cord out to the muscles is called the motor pathway. Scalp acupuncture, sometimes also called head acupuncture, is a modern innovation and development. After the eighth treatment she was able to walk with the assistance of a walker, experienced much more mobility in her hand movements, and her body spasms were almost entirely gone. He sought treatment from us during a conference in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2006. A few minutes later he was able to move his paralyzed arm and hand, amazed as he raised it over his head. He walked back into the conference room without using his cane and his face glowed with pleasure as he told the audience, I walked for about 30 minutes without any rest and without my cane except for security. The pulse reading showed lack of force in the inch (cun) and bar (guan) positions, with faint pulses in the cubit (chi) position. Whether you are treating a child or adult, it is important to observe responses and reactions while inserting, stimulating, or withdrawing needles, and adjust the techniques accordingly. The man had developed paralysis in the right arm and hand after an operation on the left side of his brain to remove a tumor. Select the Chorea and Tremor Area or Foot Motor and Sensory Area according to whether the patient has muscular spasms or other abnormal sensations such as pain or burning. Although she felt nervous and was assisted by two people, she stood up. David, a 52-year-old man, was vacationing with his wife in Santa Fe, NM, in 1993. Lisa was afraid of needles and started to cry and refuse the treatment before the first needle was inserted. The outcome measures included the patient's (1) subjective evaluation of her percentage of improvement before and after weekly treat Even after showing some improvement of his aphasia and the paralyzed arm and leg, he demonstrated no excitement and simply said, I do not notice any difference about my throat and swallowing.. Through this book, we hope to contribute this knowledge and experience to current and future students, practitioners, and teachers, and that it will serve as a stepping stone for further teaching, practice, research, and development of Chinese scalp acupuncture. Fred was very negative and showed no interest in treatment by scalp acupuncture at the initial visit. Quadriplegia means paralysis of all four limbs or of the entire body below the neck. Often caused by a car or sporting accident, spinal cord injury is extremely serious. In advanced stages, both regions of the body are affected. It is reprinted here with permission from Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, Colorado. The results showed that the effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the body acupuncture group and 80.0% (24/30) in the scalp acupuncture group. The .gov means its official. Keep the needles in for 2530 minutes. In terms of Western medicine, it contributes significantly to the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Her speech was clearer, she didn't feel that her tongue was thick when talking, and very little choking had occurred. The symptoms of brain injury depend on the area of the brain affected. Before His aphasia, dysphasia, and paralysis on the right side had shown no further improvement for the past two weeks. His voice was low and it was very difficult to understand him. There are considerable clinical studies and experimental research showing the excellent results obtained from scalp acupuncture on paralysis due to stroke. Scalp acupuncture is an effective treatment for Bell's palsy. The needles were inserted into the muscle layer, especially at Baihui. Needles should be inserted in both upper 1/5 Motor Area and middle 2/5 Motor Area and stimulated bilaterally. She had been receiving rehabilitation treatment including physical therapy, osteopathic therapy, and speech therapy starting two weeks after her injury. Moxibustion can enhance the therapeutic results of scalp acupuncture, especially for older or weaker patients. It primarily affects adults, with age of onset typically between 20 and 40 years, and is twice as common in women compared to men. The insertion of two needles on the left side of her scalp did not seem to bother her at all. Finally, Chapter Four presents a large number of treatment strategies and techniques with color figures clearly illustrating the location of stimulation areas. Therefore it is imperative to deal with the dangers of dysphagia through dietary management once acupuncture has been instituted. The best results are usually achieved by applying low frequency (for example, 3 hertz) with high intensity (for instance, when visible muscle contraction is observed). Therefore, many practitioners in both the West and the East are only mildly aware of this new technique, and few apply it in their practices. Treatment is given two to three times per week and a therapeutic course consists of 10 treatments. She lost control of her body below the neck and had paralysis of all four limbs. The techniques introduced in this book can be easily mastered and performed even by people with minimal acupuncture experience. "Essential tremor: choosing the right management plan for your patient." Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, December 2011; 78(12):821-8. Yin corresponds to nourishing muscles and tendons and points from yin channels have positive results for pronounced stiffness and contraction of the limbs. Sherry's fine motor movement showed some improvement such as turning on a light switch. When treating a hemorrhagic stroke, however, scalp acupuncture should not be performed until the patient's condition is stable, probably one month after a stroke. Otherwise, patients may conclude that acupuncture made their symptoms worse. Location: Horizontal line 1.5 cm above and centered on the apex of ear, 4 cm in length. Recent studies have shown that scalp acupuncture could be a very effective form of pain relief for a variety of limb pains. Recent studies have shown that scalp acupuncture can be a very effective modality in controlling MS, often producing remarkable results after just a few needles are inserted. Tom was instructed to do some passive exercise while the needles were in place, having his wife move his hand and raise his arm. To relax contractures of the foot and ankle, thread a two-inch needle from Jie Xi (St 41) toward Qiu Xu (GB 40) and Sheng Mai (Bl 62). That is highly unusual and by no means the norm. It requires very good needle technique as well as good communication skills. A local hospital diagnosed stroke caused by cerebral hemorrhage in his left hemisphere. Wherever possible or useful, other modalities or techniques to enhance the scalp acupuncture treatments are included with the case histories, which demonstrates the integration of Chinese medical theory and application into the clinical practice of scalp acupuncture. Common MNDs include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, and poliomyelitis. If this was not enough, the corner of his mouth on the affected side drooped and his mouth deviated to the right side, which was aggravated when he smiled. She was amazed to feel the spasms and numbness in her legs improve just minutes after a few needles were inserted. During an MS attack, inflammation occurs in areas of the white matter of the central nervous system in random patches. Readers may notice that the indications for treatment for each scalp area are many in order to demonstrate the variety of disorders that can benefit from scalp acupuncture therapy. Scalp acupuncture offers great rehabilitation tools for dysphagia. Her tongue had a red tip, a peeled coating on the right side, was purple in the center, had major teeth marks along the sides, a severe tremor, and a thick, white coating. If treating a patient with Bell's palsy within seven days of its onset, it is wise to inform patients that their condition is not yet stable and more or worse symptoms can continue to develop. She could not control her urine, choked when eating, and always felt fatigued. Not only can it improve symptoms, the patient's quality of life, and slow the progression of physical disability, but it can also reduce the number of relapses. At the beginning of the third visit, his wife reported that Fred's mood and attitude were much better after the last treatment. Quadriplegia can be treated after any duration, but less than three months from the date of injury or illness shows the greatest improvement. 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